Michelle Leigh Calaway [ 5 ] ( née McCool ; born January 25, 1980 ) is an american withdraw master wrestler. She is well known for her time with WWE, where she is a former two-time WWE Divas Champion and a two-time WWE Women ‘s Champion. McCool originally worked as a middle educate teacher in Palatka, Florida. She joined WWE in 2004 after participating in the WWE Diva Search. In her initial on-screen appearances, she utilized the character of a personal trainer, before changing it to that of a teacher. At The big american Bash in 2008, McCool became the inaugural WWE Divas Champion, holding the title for approximately five months. She then won the WWE Women ‘s championship at The Bash in 2009, becoming the first base female wrestler to have held both titles. At Night of Champions in 2010, she unified both titles becoming the first and lone WWE Unified Divas Champion. McCool held both titles on two occasions, which makes her a four-time champion overall. In November 2010, she was ranked number one in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’ s Female 50, and she retired the follow class.
Reading: Michelle McCool – Wikipedia
early life [edit ]
Both of McCool ‘s parents work in education ; her mother, Jenny, [ 6 ] is a teacher and her father, Terry, is a overseer. [ 7 ] She has an older brother who played football at the University of Cincinnati. [ 8 ] Growing up, McCool was an avid writhe fan, going ampere far as knowing how to do Ric Flair ‘s signature maneuver, the figure-four leglock, by age seven. Before and during high educate, McCool played softball, basketball and volleyball. [ 8 ] She besides played beginning basis at Pasco-Hernando State College. [ 7 ] McCool subsequently received her Master ‘s degree in educational leadership from Florida State University, [ 7 ] and taught seventh grade skill for four years in her hometown of Palatka, Florida. [ 1 ] [ 7 ] She besides competed in National Physique Committee fitness contests, teach gymnastics and kickboxing, and worked as a personal flight simulator. [ 1 ]
World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE [edit ]
developmental territories and educate ( 2004–2006 ) [edit ]
McCool first came to World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) as a rival in the 2004 WWE Diva Search, losing to Christy Hemme. [ 1 ] Although she was eliminated, WWE signed her to a three-year bargain in November. [ 1 ] She quickly began appearing in backstage segments on SmackDown! portraying a fitness trainer and teaching respective wrestlers stretches. She wrestled in her first SmackDown! match, teaming with The Big Show to defeat Dawn Marie and René Duprée on March 3, 2005. [ 9 ] McCool made her singles debut match on March 24, losing to Marie. [ 2 ] A few months late, McCool became a part of the feud between MNM ( Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury ) and Heidenreich when she defended Heidenreich against MNM ‘s coach Melina ‘s verbal attacks. [ 1 ] In a pit on June 30, Melina defeated McCool by pinning her with the illegal aid of the ring ropes as leverage. [ 1 ] McCool was then sent to WWE ‘s developmental facility, Deep South Wrestling ( DSW ), where she wrestled, performed interviews, hosted segments, and provided discolor comment. [ 1 ] While in DSW, she was hospitalized after having an allergic reaction to a positive medication and was temporarily sidelined to recover. [ 1 ] finally, she started to train in WWE ‘s early developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling ( OVW ). While in OVW, she began managing the duet of Amish Roadkill and K.C. James. [ 1 ]
Main roll introduction ( 2006–2008 ) [edit ]
McCool in 2008 McCool returned to SmackDown! on June 2, 2006, this prison term as a heel with a “ sexy teacher ” catch, playing on her real liveliness experiences as a teacher. [ 1 ] Upon her arrival, she aligned with Kristal Marshall to feud with Jillian Hall and Ashley Massaro. [ 1 ] This feud led to a fateful Four-Way Bra and Panties equal at The great american Bash, which Massaro won. [ 10 ] She won her beginning singles match on the July 28 episode of SmackDown!, defeating Hall by illegally using the ropes as leverage. [ 11 ] soon after, she began acting as valet for the team of K. C. James and Idol Stevens, who, because of her association with them, were nicknamed The Teacher ‘s Pets. [ 1 ] [ 12 ] The trio began feuding with Paul London and Brian Kendrick, and their valet Massaro, for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but never won the title. [ 1 ] The feud ended when London and Kendrick won a match against them at No Mercy in October. [ 13 ] On November 28, McCool was hospitalized with an enlarge kidney, a break sternum, and an electrolyte imbalance. [ a ] [ 15 ] She was released from the hospital on December 2. [ 16 ] McCool returned on the March 30, 2007, episode of SmackDown!, where she participated in a 10-Diva tag team match. [ 17 ] On the April 13 episode of SmackDown!, McCool became a fan favored again, when she came to the aid of Ashley after she was attacked by Jillian Hall wing. [ 18 ] Subsequently, a series of matches took place between Victoria and McCool, [ 19 ] including a blend tag team match where Victoria and Kenny Dykstra defeated McCool and Chuck Palumbo. [ 20 ]
“ All-American Diva ” and Divas Champion ( 2008–2009 ) [edit ]
McCool was then repackaged as “ The All-American Diva ”, where she began accompanying her on-screen friend Chuck Palumbo during matches against Jamie Noble. [ 1 ] After a serial of matches between the men, Noble won a date with McCool by defeating Palumbo. [ 1 ] In the storyline, Palumbo by chance elbowed McCool during a match, [ 1 ] causing her to suffer a concussion. [ 21 ] The partnership was dissolved when McCool refused to accept his apology. [ 1 ] She then went on to compete in a series of matches with Victoria, Eve Torres, Maryse and Cherry to determine SmackDown!’ s top Diva, with McCool winning title. [ 3 ] On the July 4, 2008, sequence of SmackDown!, McCool won a golden Dreams match to face Natalya for the WWE Divas Championship at The bang-up american Bash. At the event, on July 20, McCool defeated Natalya to become the inauguration WWE Divas Champion. [ 22 ] McCool successfully defended the claim against Maryse on SmackDown and at the Unforgiven pay-per-view in September, and against Maria on SmackDown in November. [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] On the December 26 episode of SmackDown!, McCool lost the Divas championship to Maryse. [ 26 ] After the match McCool turned heel by attacking Maria, the particular guest reviewer of the match, and blaming her for the passing. [ 26 ] In the play along weeks, McCool besides attacked Eve Torres, [ 27 ] resulting in Torres ‘ debut match, which McCool won. [ 28 ] McCool then defeated Gail Kim on the May 22, 2009, taping of SmackDown to become the number one rival for the WWE Women ‘s Championship. [ 29 ] A month belated at The Bash, McCool defeated Melina – with avail from Alicia Fox – to win her first Women ‘s Championship. [ 1 ] [ 30 ] With her succeed, McCool became the first Diva to have won both the WWE Divas and Women ‘s championships. [ 31 ] She retained the championship against Melina in a replay on July 26 at Night of Champions, [ 32 ] and besides in a Lumberjill catch on the October 2 sequence of SmackDown. [ 33 ]
LayCool and retirement ( 2009–2011 ) [edit ]
McCool then allied with Layla to form LayCool, and the duet entered a controversial feud with Mickie James, in which LayCool bullied James and made fun of her system of weights. The feud resulted in a five-on-five Survivor Series pit at the 2009 Survivor Series, which James ‘ team won, when Melina pinned McCool. [ 34 ] James then became the issue one rival for McCool ‘s WWE Women ‘s Championship at TLC : Tables, Ladders & Chairs, where McCool successfully retained the championship after intervention from Layla. [ 35 ] [ 36 ] McCool lost the Women ‘s Championship to James at the Royal Rumble, although she regained it on the February 26, 2010, episode of SmackDown! when special guest referee Vickie Guerrero interfered, to become a two-time Women ‘s Champion. [ 37 ] [ 38 ] On the April 23 sequence of SmackDown!, McCool and Layla defeated Beth Phoenix and Mickie James, and attacked Phoenix after the match. This led to McCool losing the championship to Phoenix in an “ extreme point Makeover ” match at Extreme Rules. [ 39 ] On the May 14 episode of SmackDown!, McCool and Layla faced Phoenix in a Women ‘s Championship two-on-one handicap match, in which Layla pinned Phoenix to win the championship. [ 40 ] Despite Layla ‘s gain, McCool and Layla cut the Women ‘s Championship in half, and the couple were unofficially referred to as the “ co-champions ”. [ 41 ] On the July 30 episode of SmackDown!, McCool took Layla ‘s rate in her Women ‘s Championship match against Tiffany, defeating her and retaining the title. [ 42 ] At Night of Champions, McCool defeated Melina to unify the WWE Women ‘s championship with the WWE Divas Championship, [ 43 ] becoming the first WWE Unified Divas Champion, and both McCool and Layla carried their own separate backing belts. At Survivor Series on November 21, she lost the Divas Championship when Natalya defeated McCool and Layla in a two-on-one disable match. [ 44 ] At TLC : Tables, Ladders and Chairs, McCool and Layla were defeated in the first Divas tag team tables match by Natalya and Beth Phoenix. [ 45 ] [ 46 ] LayCool invoked their replay clause in January 2011, prompting the scheduling of a two-on-one disability match at the Royal Rumble. At the event, however, the pit was altered to a black four-way with the addition of Eve Torres, who won the match. [ 47 ] On the April 8 episode of SmackDown!, disagreement began to show between McCool and Layla after they were defeated by Beth Phoenix and Kelly Kelly, ascribable to McCool avoiding being tagged in by Layla, citing a back injury. [ 48 ] After more argue and unsuccessful couples therapy sessions in the come weeks, LayCool officially disbanded. [ 49 ] On the April 29 episode of SmackDown, McCool faced Layla in a singles peer, which ended in a double countout after the two began brawling. After the match, Layla challenged McCool to a no disqualification and no countout match at Extreme Rules. McCool accepted under one condition, which was that the loser leaves WWE. [ 50 ] At Extreme Rules, McCool was pinned by Layla, in what is her final examination full-time WWE match. [ 51 ]
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In a 2019 article published by The Sportster, McCool revealed her passing from the WWE that she was dealing with numerous injuries, including a tear MCL and gave birth to her child the pursue class. [ 52 ] This was explained in Lillian Garcia ‘s Chasing Glory podcast interview in 2016 :
“ It was bad equitable leaving in itself was baffling because it got to a point where I was dealing with indeed much again by and large being Undertaker ‘s girlfriend and why I was on television and even having a writer throw the papers up one day and say ‘ Why do n’t we just call it the Michelle McCool and Undertaker picture ? ! ‘ It was nonstop and I went to Vince on numerous occasions and bless his heart he was fantastic, but I just said Vince, I do n’t wan na hate something that I grew up loving sol much and the longer I stay the more I ’ m like like getting a sour taste in my mouth. so making that decisiveness to leave was ampere unvoiced as it is, but more than wanting to be in WWE or be a champion I ’ ve always wanted to be a ma. ” [ 52 ]
sporadic appearances ( 2018–present ) [edit ]
On January 22, 2018, McCool was honored as separate of a section involving women that contributed to the company ‘s success on the WWE Raw 25 Years limited episode. [ 53 ] The following week as a face, she was a surprise entrant in the inaugural address women ‘s Royal Rumble peer at the 2018 Royal Rumble, making the most eliminations in the match at five before being eliminated by Natalya. [ 54 ] In October, McCool took depart in the all women ‘s pay-per-view, WWE Evolution, by participating in a struggle royal. She was eliminated from the catch by Ember Moon. [ 55 ] During WWE The Bump, during which she celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of her husband Undertaker ‘s career, in 2020 she was asked who she would like to fight. She replied that she would gladly fight the “ Queen of WWE ”, Charlotte Flair, and did not rule out such an choice in the future. [ 56 ] [ 57 ]
early media [edit ]
During the workweek of November 5, 2007, she appeared on six episodes of Family Feud with several other WWE wrestlers and Divas. [ 58 ] She besides appeared on the February 6, 2008, episode of Project Runway with Maria Kanellis, Candice Michelle, Torrie Wilson, Kristal Marshall, and Layla El. [ 59 ] On June 3, 2008, she appeared on The Best Damn Sports Show Period with John Cena. [ 60 ] In accession, McCool appeared in the January 2009 edition of Muscle & Fitness, along with Eve Torres and Maryse. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] She besides appeared on a especial WWE edition of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. [ 63 ] McCool has appeared in six WWE video games. She made her in-game introduction in SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006. [ 64 ] Michelle besides appears in SmackDown vs. Raw 2008, [ 65 ] SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, [ 66 ] SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, [ 67 ] SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 [ 68 ] and WWE ’12. [ 69 ]
personal life [edit ]
McCool was married to Jeremy Louis Alexander, whom she began dating in high school. [ 1 ] [ 70 ] [ 71 ] The couple divorced in 2006. [ 1 ] She married chap wrestler Mark Calaway, known professionally as The Undertaker, on June 26, 2010, in Houston, Texas. [ 72 ] [ 73 ] Their first child together, their daughter Kaia, was born in August 2012. [ 74 ] McCool is a dear Christian, [ 75 ] and she incorporated christian crosses on her wrestling attire. [ 76 ] She has had respective wrestling-related injuries ; in November 2007, she fractured her nose during an oversea WWE go after Victoria ‘s clothesline hit her in the face. [ 77 ] She has been hospitalized doubly, had two broken ribs, a break sternum, and a break xiphoid work. [ 78 ] When she finally decided to retire from active wrestling contest and thus left the WWE and ended her active career, she mentioned that her foot had been injured for two months prior with a broken toe, tear articulation capsules and a torn MCL. [ 79 ] In 2016 she was diagnosed with skin cancer, and undergo successful treatment. [ 80 ] In April 2019 she publicly disclosed she had struggled with sterility, and had suffered several miscarriages. [ 81 ]
Championships and accomplishments [edit ]
- ^[14] McCool in the first place injured her back during a WWE european go. Because of pain in her back, she was unaware of the sternum wound until she went to the hospital for treatment. Tests besides revealed that she had an exaggerated kidney .
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